Page 29 of Critical Doubt

"There's the car," Savannah said, pulling over to the side. They got out and crossed the road, moving down a steep slope to a flat area where Todd's car had been pulled out of the river.

There were at least a dozen people at the scene. Savannah marched forward, flashing a big smile and her badge at the officer closest to the car. Seeing the dumbstruck look on the man's face as he allowed them to pass, Ryker didn't think she'd even needed the badge.

"All the damage is from where the car broke through the guardrail," Savannah murmured, as they walked around the car, noting the missing front fender and the considerable damage to the hood. "The airbag was deployed. The front window was shattered." She ran her gaze along the driver's side door. "But there's no sign of blood on the airbag, nothing on the seat or the door handle. No personal effects inside the vehicle."

"They could have washed away."

"Possibly." She stopped abruptly as Chief Tanner stomped over to them, anger in his eyes.

"Move away from the car," Tanner ordered, sending a sharp look at the officer who had let them pass. "I told you to keep everyone away."

"She's FBI."

He turned back to Savannah. "This has nothing to do with you or the bureau. Stay out of it."

"I have resources you don't have. You need to use me, not shut me out."

"I don't need your resources or your help. You may think you're a big shot, but in my mind you're the same troublemaker you always were. Now, step away, or you'll find yourself spending another night in my jail."

Ryker was impressed with Savannah's unwillingness to back down, but he didn't think she was going to win this round with the chief, and he didn't want to see them cut out of the investigation completely.

"I wanted to see the car," he cut in. "Todd and I served together. I want to bring him home."

"We all do. You can help by joining the search. I'll deal with the car. Move along."

They walked down to the river's edge where Savannah drew in several deep breaths.

"At least, we had a chance to look at the vehicle before he chased us away," he said.

"Not long enough."

"I wasn't sure you were going to back down."

"I'm not stupid," she retorted. "I know when to retreat."

"I never said you were stupid."

"I'm sorry. I just hate the way Tanner treats me. I have never been my best self in this town. It's why I rarely come back here. People respect me in LA. Actually, they respect me anywhere else but here."

"I get that. When you come back to your childhood home, people tend to see you as you were, not as you are."

"Does that ever happen to you?"

"I rarely go home. Shall we take a walk? We might as well search along this part of the river. It's where the car was found."

"Sure," she said, falling into step with him.

They were farther downstream than he'd gone yesterday, and as they wound their way along the shoreline, they had to weave through tall, thick trees. While the sun was out, there were dark shadows in this part of the woods, and it was quite cold. It was also quiet, only the sound of the river accompanying their walk. He didn't know where the other search parties were, but for the moment, they were completely alone.

They walked in silence for about twenty minutes. Then they ran into a couple coming from the opposite direction. The woman had medium-length, straight blonde hair while the man had dark hair and a thick beard. They appeared to be in their late twenties. The woman stopped abruptly when she saw them, a surprised, unhappy expression crossing her face.

"Savannah, you're still in town," the woman said. "I thought you'd be long gone by now."

"My plans changed."

He could hear the cool tone in Savannah's voice. Whoever this woman was, she wasn't a friend.

"Is this your boyfriend?" the woman continued.